Lady Bulldogs overwhelm UST with third loss, 23-point beating
By Ernest Martin Tuazon
The UST Growling Tigresses (9–3) suffered a fourth-quarter collapse against the untouched NU Lady Bulldogs (12–0) to absorb their third loss in the #UAAPSeason85 women’s basketball tournament, 64–87, Saturday afternoon, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Tigresses were able to inch by as close as four points, 60–64, behind the heroics of Tacky Tacatac who scored score seven straight points to open the fourth frame.
Tacatac was the lone Tigress to hit a field goal in the final salvo.
However, NU’s depth proved to be too much to handle as a triple by Gilas mainstay Camille Clarin at the 6:06 mark sparked the Lady Bulldogs’ 23–4 run to close out the game.
Kristine Cayabyab and Mikka Cacho then took turns to torment UST with their size and sheer ability to get to the paint as a Cacho layup sealed the Bulldogs’ late run, 64–87.
Cacho finished the game with a double-double of 25 points (11-of-14, 78.6 percent), 13 boards, and two steals.
UST also led their Sampaloc neighbors early in the first frame behind two triples from Jovlyn Pangilinan, 16–7, however, a 23–2 blast from NU saw them lead by 12 at the end of one, 18–30.
Alike their first-round encounter, the Tigresses’ poor start proved to be the difference maker as in the next two frames, they were able to outscore NU by a tight margin, 16–14, 19–16.
UST was also plagued with fouls and turnovers, giving up 23 fouls and 20 errors compared to NU’s nine and 14, respectively.
Tacatac’s 29-point blast and MVP frontrunner Eka Soriano’s near triple-double of 12 points, nine assists, and eight boards went for naught.
Compared to the Lady Bulldogs who had five players score double-digits, UST only had two in Soriano and Tacatac while four more of its players did not score.
The Growling Tigresses look to rebound from their third loss of the season as they clash against the Final Four-seeking UP Fighting Maroons, Wednesday morning, at the same venue.
The Scores
NU (87) — Cacho 25, Surada 14, Clarin 12, Pingol 10, Cayabyab 10, Canuto 8, Betanio 3, Tiky 2.
UST (64) — Tacatac 29, Soriano 11, Pangilinan 9, Villasin 5, Santos 4, Serrano 4, Dionisio 2
Quarter Scores: 30–18, 44–34, 60–53, 87–64
